A Universe of Change: By Candlelight Deciance
Chapter Four
Babylon Five
Senatorial Suite
President Charles Vincent was incensed. "Against contract law? You want your properties back, the same ones you abandoned?" His sneer was magnificent. "The way your corporations carry out business is rapidly approaching its end. In twenty years, if we survive that is, your corporations will either be unrecognizable or non-existent. The new technologies will change everything. Correction, they are changing everything. You are of course aware of this?" He smiled, causing them to fight to keep from squirming in their seats. "With our coming innovations, people will never fear hunger again, and they will be able to afford their food and not have to choose between that and their medicines. Poverty will become a thing of the past-if the NKDBP union does things right, and we will." Now the president glared at everyone, including the senator. "Yes, the UP and Robby are very good for us. We've thought about making another Robby." He added as an afterthought. "But that's for the future. We want to study the implications first. Making something like it is a very serious responsibility. Its implications are something we will study carefully before we proceed."
Every single one of them looked at him as the words sank in. naturally, he had everyone's undivided attention.
"A small colony cannot handle such a technological responsibility, as I alluded to earlier," Shinga noted. "We have the resources to examine and produce useful products from the AI designate."
"We are no longer a colony and it's not yours," Vincent said, thinking of Robby as a 'he,' instead of an 'it.' "He's not mine. He private property and that's final."
"I beg to differ," growled the head of Pro Zeta. "We have the law on our side. That piece of equipment is too valuable for any private individual to own. It is a human-derived piece of technology. It belongs to humanity, not some married couple whose agenda we know nothing about."
"Spoken like a true Clark acolyte," Vincent casually mentioned, causing all the CEO's eyes to twitch. "I keep repeating to you that Robby is private property and is not for sale under any circumstances. Besides, you tried that argument a short while ago. Have you forgotten so quickly?" he asked in all innocence.
"Incidentally, the same goes for Lieutenant Commander Data," Peterman casually added. "He is his own person." The senator let loose a quick bark of laughter directed at the executives in the room. "Don't play innocent. I know you know he's an AI. The secret's been out since the Proxima attack when Picard gave Lieutenant Commander Data," he emphasized, "permission to reveal himself to Captain Drake and General Pickett." He smiled viciously. "The industry CEO's, Mrs. Phillips, knew less than ten minutes after it was revealed. Earth leadership knows it by now, so try to acquire him if you dare."
The revelation that Lieutenant Commander Data was not an alien, but an android sent shock waves not only through the upper military echelons, but throughout the major corporate players of Earth Alliance industry. It wasn't general knowledge, but as soon as it became public during the Proxima-Centauri battle, the corporations found out immediately afterwards. But the android wasn't the AI designate.
"You can sue Earth Alliance as much as you want," Senator Peterman told the visitors. "Proxima is independent, and Earth needs their technology and friends to survive. EarthDome knows you saw an opportunity and tried to bleed us dry, just like you've done to the colonies since they were first created. The corporation's proposal didn't go over well with the government."
"What do you think we are?" erupted an indignant Phillips. Her normally cool demeanor was slowly cracking. without a hint of quilt. When Robby made its appearance, the corporations had not only one but two AI assets demanding to be studied and exploited. "We would never hurt Earth or the colonies, and we would never consider acquiring the android through illegal means," she lied.
The only reason they hadn't tried to kidnap Data was because they were terrified of the Federation's, and Earthforce's response. Earthforce was frightened by the Feds' very likely hostile response. The corporate entities were just as wary, considering the Feds' sheer power and ability to crush them, if they wanted to. They were a frighten, powerful and mysterious organization.
That didn't deter many in the corporate world who wanted to approach the Starfleeters and offer them incentives to work for them. Their agreement would have eased or canceled a multitude of problems between them and Earth Alliance. Under corporate control, EarthDome would have slept a lot easier and been a lot happier. The government had a point, as the Feds weren't a true independent nation. In many eyes, they acted like an extremely well-supplied mercenary organization. Trying to pressure them or stealing from such a powerful entity was out of the question, especially now. They were stronger than ever and under no one's control.
As for Robby…
"It's common knowledge that IPX tried to steal the AI designate," Phillips told both officials.
The one really responsible was Pharasol, not IPX. On Babylon Five, those hired who tried to coax the robot into their shuttle quickly discovered that it was an exercise in utter futility. CEO Rupee Shinga had no clue how they even separated security from the robot. Lots of credits were involved, a small fortune that was never recouped. The thieves were in prison, but they were very rich prisoners.
"The mobile AI, by law, cannot remain private property. It is too valuable to humanity's survival. It is too dangerous being left to the vulgarities of private individuals whose motives are suspect."
This was at least the third time they presented this same argument, and it was getting tiresome. "Whose motives are suspect?" repeated Vincent.
Phillips continued, ignoring the exasperated outburst. "It is in fact irresponsible for such technology to remain in the control of a colony that just gained independence under dubious circumstances," she half-sneered. "A colony that has no infrastructure and little technological understanding of what it's doing or how to manage complex technology that could change the very fabric of humanity's existence. With our resource, we can usher Earth towards a new level of existence, independent of the Federation's influence."
"You keep repeating that as if we aren't part of humanity." Vincent's voice turned bitter. "We are humanity. We are not under your jurisdiction or control. We don't need your self-interested guidance, and your lawsuits mean nothing to us. Your days of dominating and exploiting your own people are over."
"That is an infantile response," responded an irate Shinga. "I expected better from the new president of Proxima III. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for your people. You should reconsider our offers of help."
"No."
"The AI designate…"
"It's not your concern, neither are our patents you want so badly."
Alecia's temper flared. Rarely was she dismissed so contemptuously. "It isn't wise to make us enemies."
Both the president and the senator started chuckling, which served only to further infuriate the corporate leaders.
Now, it was Senator Peterman's turn. "Io, the Saturn colonies, the military bases, Mars belt, Mars and Earth," he said. "Life on Earth came this close to being wiped out." He let his words hang in the room. "You're worried about your profits, not the best interests of our people. Your proposal shows just how indifferent you are. The colonies who depend on your services and you bleed them dry. You would have charged them more if Earth Alliance had approved your contract proposal.
"No," he intoned. "You believe credits will save you from what's coming. No, it's not us who are the threats. The real threat is your own upcoming extinction. If humanity survives, then everything you know will change with it, and if you don't, your corporations will go the way of the dinosaurs."
"Senator…"
"If you will excuse us," Peterman said abruptly as he stood up. "We have to be at a meeting shortly and I don't want to be late," he said, effectively cutting off any further conversation. "Thank you for coming. You can see yourselves out."
The meeting was over and the furious, worried Gamma Orion syndicate, and their UIU counterparts left the Senatorial suite. The threat of unspoken retaliation hung heavy in the air.
Moments after the doors closed, both the men and their aides breathed a sigh of relief.
"They see the handwriting on the wall, and they don't like what they're seeing."
"It's too bad," Peterman sighed. There was an undercurrent of anger hidden underneath the man. "How can they act like this when our own people need their help?" He started softly cursing to himself. "Do they know how many people are blind because of the plasma strike? If it weren't for you and your offer, millions upon millions of people would starve to death even if we accepted their contract. There is no way we could have gotten enough food and supplies for all the people. Earth's capability to feed our own people is crippled for now. The only way to stop millions from dying would have been to ask the alien nations for help. If this isn't done correctly, even without those aliens trying to kill us, we could looking at a new dark age."
"Just when I think people can't sink any lower." Peterman watched the video, staring at the irate group heading towards who knows where to sulk and plan how to strike back. "This comes at the worst possible time. Greed." He shook his head in disgust. "This isn't personal to them. They still think of this war as some abstract concept. They are worried of what they may lose. Yes, they are frightened."
"But not frightened enough, not yet. That's why they're throwing everything but the kitchen sink at us," Vincent said as he sipped his drink. "It's the only thing they know how to do and didn't waste any time doing it. I'll tell you now that the NKDBP union will not honor those lawsuits.
"Neither will Earth Alliance." The senator stared at the President of Proxima III. "I am glad you're here to help us, help our planet."
"We have our differences, but it is our home," Vincent said. "Let's survive first so that we can argue later. Speaking of which, do you think the Minbari will agree to this proposal being worked on?"
"The Minbari are touchy at the best of times. Ambassador Levy and our staff will make the final decision in the meeting," the senator sighed. "The last three years were difficult and some of our choices, while very understandable, weren't popular to the Minbari."
"I know Earth Alliance rejected their request before, and that did not go over well," Vincent said, looking at the senator. "I know how they felt."
Vincente sat back down as he reflected on his own words. "But you didn't have a choice, and I concur, it was the right thing to do, no matter the consequences."
"Tens of thousands of men and women died defending Earth. The Starfleeters wiped out the Sinhindrea before they could finish the job, but thousands of men and women died by friendly fire." The senator turned somber. "As cold as it sounds, I wouldn't change a thing. I understood why and I pray to God they did, too." Vincent saw the haunted look in Peterman's eyes. "That plasma bomb was only at one-fifth power when it detonated. If those Earthforce ships and the Rantoul hadn't stood, we'd all be dead and Earth…"
He was there on Earth when the world cried out in terror. Millions upon millions of people collectively screamed at the sight at the end of the world coming for them. He screamed along with them. He survived, but the terror always returned in his dreams.
He paused as he gathered strength to continue. "Earth would be nothing but a lifeless dust-ball orbiting Sol." He looked at his drink and wished he could exchange it for something stronger.
"Here's hoping that we can all come to an agreement."
"Amen. Are you a religious man, Mister President?"
Vincent looked thoughtful. "I don't know, but I think I'm heading in that direction."
"Good for you. Meanwhile, I would suggest you build more saucers. Other colonies and Earthers will come knocking at your door. I suspect you're about to have a rather significant growth spurt."
"More headaches for Earth Alliance?"
"Of course, but we'll survive and so will our colonies. When this is over, we'll start over and do a better job this time."
For an instant both men looked frightened, and it had nothing to do with politics.
"I think we should get to the meeting now," the senator suggested. "I hate to be late."
"As do I," the president agreed.
"That meeting didn't go as planned," growled an angry Rupee Shinga. "We did not come all this way to be insulted by some former laborer," he snapped. "How dare he tell us what we can and cannot do? Proxima II and III are our properties. We spent decades building the infrastructure and developing those planetary ecosystems to make it more habitable for humans. The factories, the water and irrigation systems. It was our corporations that built everything from scratch.
"We were the ones who dig and pumped water from the deep wells within the planet so that everybody can use it. We were the ones that supplied food medicines and clothing to those people. And this is how they treat us?"
Alecia Phillips looked at him quickly, stopping his rant in mid stride. "Mr. Sykes, we please excuse us? We have some things that we need to discuss among us." She smiled at the union man who got the message. Excusing himself politely, he and his entourage left to attend another set of meetings. There were promises made that both sides would go to the Federation station and continue these conversations. It was hoped that the leaders there were more amenable to their plights.
After they were out of earshot, Shinga continued. "We miscalculated," he growled. The man was so angry he could barely walk. "They laughed at us! Are we going to acquire the AI and the synthesis technology under these conditions?" he spat. "We need to control those products if our companies are going to survive!"
Hikiro Tanaka's face was still beet-red as he struggled to reign in his own anger. "We have failed to achieve our goals." Looking at the others, he continued slowly as he gathered his words. "We look like fools, begging for scraps! Do you still think we can sue our way out of this mess?"
"The president knows more than he's saying. Perhaps he has heard the rumors." Shinga muttered. He straightened as the group headed towards one particular restaurant at the Zocalo. He did glance around to make sure that one of Vincent's spies wasn't following them. He spoke quietly, making sure that he wasn't overheard by anyone outside of his immediate company. "Our approach was wrong. We should have told them the full truth."
Phillips gazed at him, surprised and mortified at the very idea. "Absolutely not!" Alecia shook her head, disgusted by the entire affair. This couldn't have gone any worse. Salvaging this debacle was going to be difficult. But telling them the truth wasn't an option she was ready to entertain yet. "If we told them about our situation, we would lose all credibility and any influence that we might have with Proxima and Earth Alliance would collapse. No, our approach was correct."
"Legal maneuvering against them is useless," Shinga announced loudly, not caring who heard him.
His outburst was evidence of his frustration and growing frustration and fear.
After the minor eruption, no one in the entourage spoke about the meeting while the transport vehicle took them to the restaurant.
After ten minutes, the group arrived at their destination. Once again, they were surprised by the by the numbers of humans and aliens mixing freely, waiting to be seated. There were even a few Minbari there, looking very comfortable and determined to be seated. Nearby were two Earthforce members, engineers by their insignias. The four of them were quiet but intense discussion about warp theory and what they knew about it so far.
Some in the entourage couldn't help but try to eavesdrop on the very interesting conversation going on, but the reservations were already set, and the group was quickly led to their table in a private hall.
"Tanaka is right," Shinga snapped after the server took his order and left. "We would never get what we are after if we don't tell them the truth. As much as I hate to admit it, I am agreeing with him, the CEO of SynthaCorp said to Phillips.
Robert Hart, one of the senior operatives in Phillip's company, spoke up. "Our approach isn't working. We all saw that the instant Luchenko picked Proxima's proposal. In other situations, I agree. Litigations is the correct approach, but not in this case. It makes us look weak, which we are even if we don't want to admit it." His boss stared at him, mulish and defiant. He pressed on despite her silent warnings. "In twenty years, or maybe less," and he glared back at Alecia who returned the stare stone-faced, "Our companies, as they are now, will cease to exist. Once the synthesizer tech establishes itself, we might as well throw our product in the waste dumps."
"Which is why we need control of that knowledge in Earth Alliance territory before it spreads too far," protested Phillips. "You're making my argument for me."
"It's already too late for that. We already know they're selling the schematics and low-end products to the alien governments." The man looked frustrated. "We all agreed that our companies are important to us. I love our company as much as anyone here. However, everybody here forgets that Earth Alliance and everyone else is gearing up for war."
"That's a problem for the military. Our responsibility is to our companies and our stockholders. We need to survive and help humanity. If humanity is to survive, then we will need economic stability as we look to the future. With the synth and other products being developed by our competitors," and here she meant Proxima and the Federation and their miracle engineering, "then we need to be able to compete effectively."
Tanaka stabbed at a piece of sushi appetizer. "War is always with us. We have survived before and we will do it again. I have always believed that the Minbari would have ignored the smaller colonies once they satisfied themselves with Earth. These aggressive aliens will ultimately be put down by the Minbari and the other aliens alliances that are developing. We just need to survive this."
Shinga put his fork down. Suddenly, he wasn't hungry. "We are speaking of tens of millions of deaths. Should we sue them now while they are fighting for our lives?"
Tanaka laughed. It was a bitter sound. "You were the one who suggested we sue everybody, not just the Federation people and Earth Alliance." He held up his hand, halting the incoming retort. "We need to find another way to get what we want. our current plan will not work."
Robert Hart couldn't believe what he was hearing, or rather, he did believe. He had to say something, even if it cost him his job. "This war is everyone's responsibility, and here we are pretending that all of this will blow over. We have problems. They're getting bolder and don't mean the Sinhindrea. Very soon, the pirates will attack us directly and we don't have the resources to stop them," he said, directly contradicting his bosses' opinions on the matter. She again stared daggers at him but said nothing as he continued. "We can ignore the aliens for the moment, but these pirates are going to be the death of all of our institutions and all the other colonies long before the aliens hit us."
"I understand," she said tartly. "But if we don't approach this carefully, we're going to lose everything." She stared at Tanaka, trying to read his mind. "I've learned that we must negotiate from a position of strength. If we tell them everything we might as well just stay here on Babylon Five for the rest of our lives."
"Mrs. Phillips, with all due respect, we've already run," Robert said. The executive was one of the most outspoken members in her organization and often crossed swords with Phillips, but in a respectful way. She disliked his impertinence, but respected the man. "Our families are here because we couldn't afford to leave them behind like the rest of our employees and their families."
"That's not fair."
"But it's true. We left the colonies to fend for themselves, while Mister Shinga, Mister Tanaka, and the rest of us sit here safe and sound. We came here to make credits and then ask for help and maybe make a few other deals. And let's admit, we're spying on the competition and the Fed innovations everywhere. But it's not working. We must change our approach quickly or we will lose everything. The president was correct. Our companies have to change with the times. If the pirates don't get us, those aliens will. You saw what happened here and the weapons they used on Earthforce, but we can't handle the pirates either. I strongly suggest we tell them the whole truth,"
"If we tell them the truth," snarled Shinga, "then let us call them for what they are, Clark's rebels. They may be pirates, but they are Earthforce."
"That's the irony of this all. We needed Earth Alliance protection, offered them a very reasonable proposal I might add, and they rejected us out of hand because Proxima III stabbed us in the back." Phillips snarled. "While I applaud their tactics, I am displeased, to put it mildly, at the results. Look at us. We spent the last week here surveying the damage and devastation. Earthforce is a shell of his former self. Earth is an ecological and environmental disaster!" she sighed and then took a sip of her white wine. "We could have helped them, made our profits, and be protected all at once Luchenko approved the contract."
"Forget about the contracts and profits. That's in the past now." Tanaka countered viciously. "We need to pull our credits and as much property as we can out of Gamma and Orion and leave before they come and take everything from us. l propose we get as many people as possible off the colonies and bring them here or to Earth as soon as possible, if they want to come, and tell Earth Alliance the truth of our situation and lapse into bankruptcy."
"God, Rupee, you've changed," an astonished Alecia told him.
"This place," he said, waving his arm to show the station, "has changed my perspective. I want my business to survive this current crisis, but I don't want their blood of my employees and their families on my hands when I could have just spoken up. Besides, it is good for business to be seen as a caring employer concerned for the welfare of my people once all of this blows over. It will take a lot of time to reestablish ourselves, and our credibility can always use some positive press."
"We'll lose everything," Alecia insisted. "What good is positive press if we have nothing left?"
"Ms. Phillips," Robert practically snarled, surprising those around him. "We've been here a week and seen everything, but it appears that none of this has sunk in. You're casting a blind eye on the reality of this situation. LA and Peking were nuked by the Drakh, who dropped a plague on the people of Earth. The plague was intended to weaken us, but millions died from collateral effects of disease and starvation. We should have offered our services to them, but we didn't. That biological attack was intended for the Sinhindrea. They would have come and fed on the people of Earth and our native fauna, everything! We all saw what the Shadows had planned for us. The Centauri war is over, but Mars population was destroyed and Proxima II and III were decimated, the colonists almost wiped out. And we were upset because our factories and infrastructure were damaged. Earthforce suffered and is a shell of its former self as they've fought just about everybody. The aliens sterilized much of the North American continent, which is now a w wasteland. Everyone's terrified they'll come back and finish the job. Babylon Five was attacked. Minbar's rumored to be under attack, and here we are, concerned about holding on to our profit margins. Ladies and gentlemen, this isn't an abstract situation that doesn't affect us. That's on Earth Alliance's plate. But these rebels are just as bad, if not worse, in the short term. If they take Orion and Gamma, and we survive the coming war, it will be years if not decades before Earthforce can drive them out. By then they will be too entrenched for anybody to do anything about it."
"Mister Hart, you presume too much by daring to lecture us," Alecia whispered dangerously.
"Someone has to," he countered. If his job was forfeited, then so be it. His words frightened them, and the powerful CEOs knew he was right about everything. They were looking at this as an abstract concept, in a manner they could understand, not directly affecting them. "We have got to tell them because if we don't, we will doom our companies just as effectively as the synthesizer and AI innovations will."
Those words affected them in ways that no other argument had previously.
"Yes. We cannot handle this ourselves," Tanaka admitted. "The military must allocate the resources and help us before it is too late."
"You've seen their attitude and resources," Phillips snapped. "Why should they help us when they can barely help themselves? Look at them. They have very little to give, and what they do have, is tied up here and at Earth waiting for an attack they know is coming."
"All the more reason to tell them now, so that they can prepare," countered Tanaka. "We all understand why they are so concerned about the aliens. Given enough time, they will kill us all. We know this, Mrs. Phillips. However, our strong-arm tactics are a failure and have only antagonized them. We need to pivot."
Alecia Phillips quietly absorbed the arguments for and against full disclosure. As the de facto leader of the group, everyone looked to her to make the final decision. She was quiet for perhaps twenty minutes before speaking once more. She finished her white wine and filled her glass once more. She needed it right now.
"As much as I'm loathed to do it, I vote we tell them the truth." There, she'd done it and it hurt as much as she suspected it would. "This does concerns them as much as it does us. Robert, you're right. If the truth gets out before we disclose everything, the publicity will ruin our companies. I now vote we help them against these Sinhindrea creatures and the pirates with every resource we have, even if it means donating our supplies to them for free. For a limited time," she added. "In the long run, I believe this decision will cost everything, but the alternative is worse." She smiled woefully, already regretting her decision. "It would have been good to obtain the AI designate. What we could have done with it."
"Just to be clear," Hart said. "We'll tell Senator Peterman, Levy, and the rest that the Clark remnants are attacking the outer colonies, taking everything that they can, and butchering the survivors to cover up their crimes, and that we've kept quiet about this?"
"Yes. We can say this, and it's true. That believed them to be pirates and just now discovered that they were Earthforce remnants of the Clark loyalists. We thought we could handle the pirates, but this is another level we cannot effectively handle, this kind of threat."
Each of the three senior executives stared at one another in silent agreement. They'd fill out the holes in the story later. The lawyers and other assistance around them backed off, giving them space. It was going to be a nightmare.
The Gamm Orion syndicate of Three received multiple reports that a rouge Earthforce fleet was operating and harassing micro-colonies, and small settlements for the last year. Those same reports suggested that these ships were remnants of the Clark loyalist's faction, known to have an operational base somewhere near the Gamma star system. They operated quietly, far away from EarthDome's probing eyes.
Clark was dead, however the hardcore loyalists that broke him out of prison and attempted to violate the planet-wide quarantine to affect his escape failed. Clark's shuttle was vaporized and the loyalist, fearing Earthforce and Earth Alliance's wrath retreated. An estimated sixteen warships and several dozen transports fled to parts unknown.
The hidden base they retreated to was one of Clarks ultra-secret weapons known only to a few of Clark's most trusted military officers. There were others who were aware of the installation, General Brindley, Phelps, and several high-level officials knew, but they were all dead, killed during the Sinhindrea attack on Earth. The ex-president never fully trusted Lefcourt and Franklin and those officers were never informed of the location of the base. Because of the lack of resources and ships, Earth Alliance didn't have the inclination to go chasing after them, and now that miscalculation had come back to haunt them all. The escapees kept a low profile until recently. Several settlements disappeared under mysterious circumstances. They were hit quickly and there were no survivors.
Nothing remains in a vacuum. Word got out and those who could get out, did. Two Centauri convoys were attacked, no survivors. The Centauri never discovered who the perpetrators were and were too busy dealing with the Sinhindrea.
Recently, several larger corporate transports were attacked, alarming the corporations in the area. Whoever was attacking these colonies and transports, operated in the Gamma and Orion systems with impunity and were becoming bolder with each success. With nothing to oppose them, it was only a matter of
Earthforce was far weaker than the corporation CEOs thought before coming to Babylon Five. The proposal represented a buffer between the colonies and the renegade Earth forces, but the plan failed miserably. The hired corporate security forces weren't equipped to handle such firepower even if they tried to make a stand. And of course, they wouldn't even try. They would run rather than stand and die for what they were being paid. Clark's people could take and hold the colonies, at the very least until the war was over one way or another. It would take years for Earthforce to come after them. This made the loyalists an extremely dangerous group needing to be put down as soon as possible.
"Yes, we are all in agreement," Alecia announced quietly. "These rebels need to be put down. The question is how to approach Earth Alliance about the problem without being blamed for taking so long to tell anyone about the situation.
Finally, she said, "Who should we approach first? I am willing to entertain some suggestions. Anyone?"
She stared at Robert. So did the others.
"So, who is going to be our sacrificial lamb?" she asked no one in particular. "That man or woman will be well-compensated for and I promise they will always have a job at Pro Zeta," she confirmed. "Well, anybody?" she asked, staring at one person in particular. "Robert?"
Crap, crap, crap.
Comment" On a sad note, we lost Mira Furlan (Satai Delenn) January of this year. It was complications of West Nile Virus. She was 65.